Method and machine for the production of composite filter mouthpiece

ABSTRACT

Filter mouthpieces with one or more thin filter disks of first filter material and one or more filter plugs of second filter material are produced by inserting alternating filter plugs and filter disks into prefabricated tubes which move sideways, by inserting filter disks between filter plugs which form a single file and travel with a web of wrapping material which is thereupon draped around the alternating filter disks and filter plugs, or by inserting filter disks between groups of axially aligned tobacco rod sections and filter plugs and thereupon wrapping adhesive-coated uniting bands therearound.

United States Patent [191 Schubert et a1.

[451 Sept. 10, 1974 METHOD AND MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOSITE FILTER MOUTHPIECE [75] Inventors: Bernhard Schubert, Neu Boernsen;

Otto Blidung, Geestchact, both of Germany [73] Assignee: Hauni-Werke Korber & Co. K.G.,

Hamburg, Germany [22] Filed: July 25, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 275,096

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data July 26, 1971 Germany 2137318 July 26, 1971 Germany 2137319 Sept. 10, 1971 Germany 2145375 [52] US. Cl. 93/1 C, 93/77 Fl [51] Int. Cl. A24c 5/50 [58] Field of Search 93/1 C, 77 F1; 131/261 R,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1970 Pinkham 93/1 C X 3,603,058 9/1971 Schubert 93/1 C X Primary ExaminerRoy Lake Assistant Examiner.lames F. Coan- Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Michael S. Striker [57] ABSTRACT Filter mouthpieces with one or more thin filter disks of first filter material and one or more filter plugs of second filter material are produced by inserting alternating filter plugs and filter disks into prefabricated tubes which move sideways, by inserting filter disks between filter plugs which form a single file and travel with a web of wrapping material which is thereupon draped around the alternating filter disks and filter plugs, or by inserting filter disks between groups of axially aligned tobacco rod sections and filter plugs and thereupon wrapping adhesive-coated uniting bands therearound.

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METHOD AND MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOSITE FILTER MOUTHPIECE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION clindrical plugs or wads and one or more disk-shaped elements of gas-permeable filter material and wherein the material of the filter plug or plugs is normally different from the material of the filter disk or disks.

The invention also relates to a method and machine for the making of rod-shaped smokers products which embody the improved filter mouthpieces.

It is already known to provide cigarettes, cigars and- /or cigarrillos with composite filter mouthpieces which contain two or more different filter materials. It was found that a composite mouthpiece is often a more effective means for segregating from tobacco smoke substantial quantities of nicotine, tar and/or other deleterious ingredients. For example, it is known to employ filter mouthpieces wherein a tube contains a wad or plug of acetate fibers and a charge of granular filter material, e.g., activated carbon. It' is also known to replace the charges of granular or powdery material with thin disk-shaped filters which consist of glass fibers alone or glass fibers impregnated with one or more chemicals. The relatively thin glass fiber disks are surprisingly effective as concerns their ability to absorb various harmful ingredients of tobacco smoke. However, such filter elements exhibit the serious drawback that they are much more difficult to assemble with other components, especially when the filter mouthpieces are to be produced at the rate of several thousand per minute. The problems in connection with the manipulation of relatively thin disk-shaped filters are attributed mainly to the small length of such filter elements as well as to the fact that they are readily deformable. As a rule, the material of filter disks is quite soft so that they are likely to be deformed to an extent which renders them useless in composite filter mouthpieces for cigarettes or the like. The problems in connection with the manipulation of filter disks are equally severe when the filter mouthpieces are to be assembled in the form of continuous filter rods which are thereupon subdivided into filter mouthpieces of desired length, when the components of filter mouthpieces are inserted into tubular envelopes which travel sideways, as well as when the filter mouthpieces are assembled and immediately attached to tobacco rod sections which constitute plain cigarettes, cigars or cigarillos.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method of producing composite filter mouthpieces which contain one or more disk-shaped filter elements according to which the assembly of filter mouthpieces can be completed at a high rate of speed, with a high degree of reproducibility and without any damage to or deformation of sensitive disk-shaped filter elements.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method of producing discrete filter mouthpieces which contain one or more disk-shaped filter elements.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method of producing a continuous filter rod which can be subdivided into filter mouthpieces of unit length or multiple unit length and each mouthpiece of which contains at least one disk-shaped filter element.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method of producing filter-tipped rod-like smokers products wherein the mouthpieces contain one or more disk-shaped filter elements.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved machine for converting a succession of prefabricated tubes, filter plugs and filter disks into filter mouthpieces wherein the filter disks are located in optimum positions for interception of maximum quantities of deleterious ingredients of tobacco smoke.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved machine for the production of filtertipped cigarettes, cigars or cigarillos each of which embodies a filter mouthpiece having one or more diskshaped filter elements.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved machine for the production of a continuous filter rod which can be subdivided into mouthpieces having one or more disk-shaped filter elements.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine for the making and/or processing of filter mouthpieces having one or more disk-shaped filter elements which is constructed and assembled in such a way that it can turn out large quantities of mouthpieces per unit of time without, however, affecting the quality, appearance and/or integrity of filter disks.

An additional object of the invention is to provide the improved machine with novel and improved means for producing and/or manipulating disk-shaped filter elements for use in composite filter mouthpieces which contain several types of filter material.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a machine for the making of filter mouthpieces containing one or more disk-shaped filter elements which can produce such mouthpieces with minimal waste in filter material and which can assemble filter mouthpieces at the rate required to meet the requirements of a modern high-speed filter cigarette making or like machine.

One feature of out invention resides in the provision of a method of producing composite filter mouthpieces of the type wherein a prefabricated tube confines a plurality of gaspermeable plugand disk-shaped filter elements. The method comprises the steps of continuously moving at least one prefabricated tube sideways, placing a first filter plug or wad into axial alignment with and introducing the thus aligned first plug into the moving tube, placing a filter disk into axial alignment with and introducing the thus aligned filter disk into the moving tube, and placing a second filter plug into axial alignment with and introducing the thus aligned second filter plug into the moving tube so that the filter disk is located between the first and second filter plugs. The material of at least one of the filter plugs is preferably different from the material of the filter disk. The material of the first filter plug is preferably identical with the material of the second filter plug but is preferably different from the material of the filter disk.

The moving step may comprise moving the prefabricated tube sideways along an endless path.

The second introducing step may comprise moving the filter disk axially into abutment with one end of the first plug, and the third introducing step may comprise moving the second filter plug into the tube to a position in which the second filter plug is spaced apart from the filter disk. Alternatively, the second introducing step may comprise moving the filter disk into the moving tube to a position in which the filter disk is spaced apart from the first filter plug, and the third introducing step then preferably comprises moving one end of the second filter plug into abutment with the filter disk.

The method may further comprise the step of placing a second filter disk into axial alignment with and introducing the thus aligned second filter disk into the moving tube so that the first and second filter disks are located at the opposite ends of the second filter plug, and placing a third filter plug into axial alignment with and introducing the thus aligned third filter plug into the moving tube so that the second disk is located between the second and third plugs. The thus obtained mouthpiece can be severed midway across its second filter plug (which is preferably of multiple unit length) to yield two filter mouthpieces of unit length each having a single filter disk flanked to two filter plugs. The first filter disk preferably abuts against one of the first and second plugs, and the second filter disk preferably abuts against one of the second and third filter plugs.

The filter plugs are preferably obtained by continuously moving an elongated filter rod section sideways and severing the filter rod section to form at least the first and second filter plugs. The filter disks are preferably formed by moving an elongated strip of filter material lengthwise and by severing (e.g., stamping) the moving filter material to form a succession of filter disks. Each filter disk can be introduced into the moving tube by pushing it through the intermediary of the next-following (second or third filter plug.

If the filter plugs are formed by repeated severing of an elongated filter rod section which moves sideways, the filter rod section is preferably movable into and from axial alignment with the moving tube so that a freshly severed filter plug can be introduced into the tube while the remainder of the filter rod section is out of alignment with the tube. The severing of filter rod section preferably takes place while the latter registers with the moving tube.

It is preferred to simultaneously move a plurality of prefabricated tubes sideways along an endless path. In accordance with such method, each of the first and third placing and introducing steps preferably comprises moving a plurality of elongated filter rod sections sideways so that each section registers at least temporarily with a tube, severing the filter rod sections while they register with the respective tubes to form discrete filter plugs, and simultaneously introducing the thus obtained filter plugs into the respective tubes, preferably while the remainders of the filter rod sections are shifted sideways so that each thereof is out of register with the respective tube.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a second method of making composite filter mouthpieces each of which also comprises at least one disk-shaped filter element and at least two plug or wadshaped filter elements. The method comprises the steps of moving a continuous web of wrapping material lengthwise, placing onto or against one side of the moving web a single file of axially spaced filter plugs and moving the filter plugs with the web, placing filter disks between successive filter plugs of the file and moving the filter disks with the web and filter plugs, draping the web around the filter plugs and filter disks to form an elongated filter rod wherein filter disks alternate with filter plugs, and severing the filter rod to form a plurality of discrete filter mouthpieces each of which contains at least one filter disk and at least a portion of at least two filter plugs.

The second placing step may comprise holding each of the filter disks at one side or one axial end thereof and positioning each of the thus held filter disks in abutment with one of the adjacent filter plugs. The draping step preferably further comprises connecting the filter disks with the abutting filter plugs by means of the web of wrapping material which can have its one side at least partially coated with a layer of adhesive material. At least one of the placing steps may comprise moving the respective filter elements (particularly the filter disks) sideways against the one side of the moving web of wrapping material. The filter disks are preferably held by suction during transport into the spaces between the filter plugs at one side of the moving web of wrapping material.

The method may further comprise the step of moving the filter disks between the filter plugs axially so that each of the thus moved filter disks abuts against one of the adjacent filter plugs, or moving the filter plugs of the single file axially so that each of the thus moved filter plugs abuts against a discrete filter disk.

Still further, the method may comprise the step of holding the filter disks in abutment with the adjacent filter plugs at one side of the moving web, at least prior to the draping step or even during the initial stage of the draping step, to thus insure that the filter disks are not moved away from the abutting filter plugs or vice versa. The just mentioned holding step may comprise attracting the filter disks against the abutting filter plugs by suction which acts through the abutting filter plugs. The placing of the filter plugs against one side of the moving web may be carried out at least substantially simultaneously with the placing of filter disks.

A third feature of the invention resides in the provision of a method of making filter-tipped rod-shaped smokers products, such as filter cigarettes. The method comprises the steps of moving a succession of wrapped tobacco rod sections (e.g., plain cigarettes of unit length) sideways, placing filter plugs into axial alignment with successive tobacco rod sections and moving the thus obtained groups sideways, placing filter disks between the filter plugs and tobacco rod sections of successive groups, and convoluting adhesivecoated uniting bands around the filter plugs, filter disks and tobacco rod sections of successive groups. The second placing step may comprise locating each filter disk in abutment with that end of the respective tobacco rod section which faces the axially aligned filter plug. The first placing step may comprise locating each filter plug in spaced apart position relative to the respective tobacco rod section so that the distance between the filter plug and the aligned tobacco rod section exceeds the thickness of a filter disk. This insures that a space remains between each filter disk and the axially aligned tobacco rod section and/or filter plug.

The filter disk placing step preferably comprises holding the filter disks at one axial end thereof during introduction between the filter plugs and tobacco rod sections of the respective groups. The holding step preferably comprises holding the filter disks by suction.

The method may further comprise the step of attracting the filter disks to the tobacco rod sections of the respective groups by means of suction air streams acting through the tobacco rod sections, at least prior to start of the convoluting step.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved machine itself, however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with additional features and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of certain specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a machine for the making of composite filter mouthpieces of double unit length which embodies one form of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of a filter disk forming and feeding unit in the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 (composed of FIGS. 3a and 3b is an enlarged vertical sectional view as seen in the direction of arrows from the line III-III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a detail as seen in the direction of arrow IV shown in FIG. 3a or 3b;

FIG. 5 is a developed view of a portion of the machine of FIGS. 1 to 4, showing the sequence of steps in the manufacture of a filter mouthpiece of double unit length;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged axial sectional view of a filter mouthpiece which is manufactured in the machine of FIGS. 1 to 4;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a second filter mouthpiece making machine;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged plan view of two conveyors in the machine of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an end elevational view of the two conveyors as seen from the left-hand side of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary axial sectional view of a filter rod which is manufactured by the machine of FIGS. 7-9, further showing in axial section a complete filter mouthpiece of double unit length and a portion of such filter mouthpiece;

FIG. 11 is a schematic side elevational view of a filter cigarette making machine which embodies a third filter mouthpiece making machine;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged side elevational view of a filter disk forming and feeding unit in the machine of FIG. 11, substantially as seen in the direction of arrow XII;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view of a wrapping conveyor in the machine of FIG. 1 l; and

FIG. 14 is an axial sectional view of a filter cigarette of unit length which is manufactured in the machine of FIG. 11.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 illustrates a filter mouthpiece making machine which comprises a first feeding unit 2 including a continuously rotating drum-shaped conveyor 3 which is rotatable about a vertical axis and has axially parallel peripheral flutes 4 for reception and transport of filter rod sections 6. The machine further comprises a second feeding unit 7 including a continuously rotating drumshaped conveyor 8 having axially parallel flutes 9 for prefabricated tubes 11. A third feeding unit 12a comprises an advancing device 13a for a strip or tape 41a (see also FIG. 2) of filter material which is caused to travel past a stamping or filter disk forming device 140. The device 14a comprises tools 52a (FIG. 2) which serve to remove from the strip 41a filter disks 19. Such disks are accepted by a transfer conveyor 16a which delivers them to an assembly conveyor system 1. The transfer conveyor 16a comprises a perforated or apertured disk 17a with recesses, bores or analogous receptacles 18a for the filter disks 19. Still further, the machine comprises a second filter disk feeding unit 12b which is preferably identical with the feeding unit 12a and whose parts are denoted by similar reference numerals but with the letter a behind each numeral replaced by the letter b. Thus, the feeding unit 12b comprises an advancing device 13b, a stamping or filter disk forming device 14b which has tools 52b serving to remove filter disks 19 from a second strip 41b, and a transfer conveyor 16b having a disk 17b with receptacles 18b for the disks 19. The filter mouthpieces 21 of double unit length which are assembled on the conveyor system 1 are accepted by a continuously rotating take-off conveyor 23 having axially parallel flutes 22 for the mouthpieces 21. The flutes 22 of the conveyor 23 transport successive filter mouthpieces 21 past a continuously rotating heating device 24 whose purpose is described in US. Pat. No. 3,603,058 granted Sept. 7, 1971 to Schubert. The conveyor system 1 comprises means for transporting the filter rod sections 6 past two angularly spaced rotary disk-shaped knives 26, 27 which sever the filter rod sections 6 to subdivide the latter into filter plugs or wads of desired length. The planes of the knives 26, 27 are normal to the axes of the filter rod sections 6 which are held to move sideways. The path along which the prefabricated tubes 11, filter rod sections 6, their filter plugs and the filter disks 19 travel with the conveyor system 1 is shown in FIG. 1, as at S. This path extends along the transfer stations between the conveyor system 1 and the conveyors 3, 8, 16a, 16b and 23. The means for supplying tubes 11 to the conveyor 8 and for supplying filter rod sections 6 to the conveyor 3 is not shown in the drawing; such supplying means may comprise conical conveyors of the type shown in FIG. 12 of US. Pat. No. 3,603,058 to Schubert and serving to withdraw tubes and filter rod sections from suitable magazines.

The component parts of the feeding unit 12a or 12b.

are shown in FIG. 2. Since the two feeding units are identical, only the unit 12a will be described in detail; the reference numerals (shown in parentheses) followed by letter b refer to component parts of the feeding unit 12b.

The feeding unit 12a comprises the component parts which were mentioned in connection with the description of HG. 1 and a container 31a which confines a bobbin 39a of convoluted filter material or strip 41a. When a fresh bobbin 39a is inserted into the container 31a, the leading end of such bobbin is introduced into the nip of two advancing rolls 46a, 47a which constitute the advancing device 13a. The container 31a comprises a cylindrical portion or wall 32a of relatively short axial length, a first disk-shaped end wall fixed to one axial end of the cylindrical wall 32a, and a second end wall 34a which preferably consists of a transparent synthetic plastic material (such as plexiglass) and is pivotally mounted at the other axial end of the cylindrical wall 32a by means of a hinge 33a or the like. The light transmitting end wall 340 is normally held in the illustrated operative position by two magnets 36a, 37a. The internal surface 38 a of the cylindrical wall 32a serves as an endless track for the bobbin 39a in the container 31a. The two end walls of the container 31a hold the bobbin 390 against excessive axial movement during withdrawal of the strip 41a. The cylindrical wall 32a has an axially parallel outlet opening or mouth 42a which is flanked by two idler rolls 43a, 44a and serves to permit withdrawal of the strip 41a in response to rotation of the advancing rolls 46a, 47a. The advancing rolls 46a, 47a are constantly driven by an electric motor 48a by way of a V-belt 49a.

The stamping or filter disk forming device 14a comprises a rotary wheel-shaped carrier 51a for at least one annulus of reciprocable stamping tools 52a. The carrier 51a is disposed between the container 31a and the advancing rolls 46a, 47a. Each tool 52a resembles a pin one end of which is formed with a circular cutting edge adjacent to the path of movement of the strip 41a toward the advancing device 13a. The tools 52a are biased upwardly, as viewed in FIG. 2, by springs 56a and travel seriatim below the outer race of a relatively large antifriction bearing 53a which is mounted at a level directly above the path for the strip 41a and can be adjusted up or down by means of a lever 54a. The selected position of the bearing 53a is such that it causes successive tools 52a on the continuously rotating carrier 51a to move downwardly while they overlie the path for the strip 41a and to thereby remove from the strip filter disks 19 each of which has a diameter equalling or very closely approaching that of a filter rod section 6. The axial length of the outer race of the bearing 53a is preferably selected in such a way (see also FIG. 1) that it can move downwardly two omore tools 52a at a time in order to allow for simultaneous formation of several filter disks 19 as well as to allow for full utilization of the material of the strip 41a with minimal waste. As shown in FIG. 1, the tools 520 need not remove a straight row of filter disks 19 but can be located at different distances from the axis of the carrier 51a to form in the strip 41a a series of holes or cutouts in a socalled quincunx formation. A receptacle 18a of the disk 17a of the transfer conveyor 16a registers with that stamping tool 52a which is caused to perform a working stroke in response to movement below the outer race of the bearing 53a. Thus, the freshly formed filter disks 19 are introduced into and remain in the registering receptacles 18a for transport to the path S defined by the conveyor system 1. The stamping device 14a further comprises a stationary guide cam 57a which determines the extent to which the tools 52 rise under the action of their springs 56a or descend during certain stages of orbital movement about the axis of the carrier 51a. The manner in which the bottom face of the guide cam 57a is inclined is illustrated in FIG. 3b.

The FlGS. 3a and 3b together illustrate the details of the conveyor system 1. This system comprises a centrally located upright column 61 which rotatably supports a conveyor 62 for axially movable plungers 119, a conveyor 63 for tubes 11, a conveyor 64 for filter rod sections 6, and a conveyor 66 for plugand diskintroducing transfer members or rams 107. The conveyor 63 receives tubes 11 from the conveyor 8 of the feeding unit 7, and the conveyor 64 receives filter rod sections 6 from the conveyor 3 of the feeding unit 2. FIG. 3b further shows a portion of the transfer conveyor 16a for filter disks 19 which are formed in the feeding unit 12a.

The column 61 is mounted in a stationary frame 67 and has close to its bottom end a circumferential shoul der for an annular support 68 which carries an antifriction bearing 69. The outer race of the bearing 69 is threadedly or otherwise connected to the support 68. The support 68 comprises a cylindrical outermost portion 71 which has an external surface provided with a circumferentially complete cam groove for roller followers 118. The portion 71 is coaxial with the column 61 and bearing 69. The roller followers 118 form part of the conveyor 62 for plungers 119.

A second support 72 rests on a second annular shoulder of the column 61 at a level above the support 68 and is surrounded by a sleeve bearing 73. The support 72 also comprises a cylindrical outermost portion 74 which is provided in its upper surface with an endless cam groove for roller followers 94. The roller followers 94 transmit motion to holders 89 for the filter rod sections 6. The holders 89 form part of the conveyor 64.

A third support 76 has a top end wall 77 which rests on the upper end face of the column 61. One or more keys 78 are provided to hold the support 76 against rotation on the column 61. The end wall 77 of the support 76 meshes with a feed screw 79 which is provided with a handwheel 79a and abuts against the upper end face of the column 61. By rotating the feed screw 79, the operator can raise or lower the entire support 76 by moving it in the axial direction of the column 61. The support 76 is rigid or integral with a cylindrical drive cam 81 which is provided with an external circumferential cam groove for roller followers 106 serving to transmit motion to the rams 107 of the conveyor 66. The support 76 further carries a bearing sleeve 82. The supports 68, 72 cannot rotate relative to the column 61, the same as the support 76.

The bearings 69, 73, 82 rotatably support a cylindrical body 83 which constitutes a part of the conveyor 66, a part of the conveyor 63, a part of the conveyor 64, and a part of the conveyor 62. The body 83 comprises a hollow tubular housing 84 which is assembled of several interconnected portions. The portion 86 of the housing 84 forms part of the conveyor 64 and is located immediately above a horizontal flange of the bearing 73 and is rotatable on this bearing. The periphcry of the housing portion 86 is formed with axially parallel equidistant receptacles 87 for tubes 11. Each receptacle 87 comprises a grooved lower portion and a ring-shaped upper portion. The upper portion of each receptacle 87 registers with a vertical bore 88 whose diameter increases upwardly and which terminates at the level of the rotary knives 26 and 27. As shown in FIGS. 3a, 3b and 4, the conveyor 64 for the filter rod sections 6 comprises a plurality of holders 89 which are mounted at a level slightly above the upper ends of the bores 88. Each holder 89 resembles one of the receptacles 87, i.e., it comprises a grooved upper portion and a lower portion forming a ring. Groups or sets of four holders 89 for filter rod sections 6 are mounted on discrete levers 91 which are pivotable about the axes of vertical shafts 92 mounted in the housing portion 86. The lower end portion of each shaft 92 carries an arm 93 for a roller follower 94 which, as mentioned above, extends into the cam groove in the top face of the stationary drive cam 74 forming part of the support 72. Thus, as the housing portion 86 rotates about the axis of the column 61, the cam 74 controls the pivotal movements of levers 91 about the axes of the respective shafts 92. This enables the holders 89 and the filter rod sections 6 therein to move into and form axial alignment with the receptacles 87 for the tubes 11.

The upper portion of the housing 84 supports a guide ring 96 which is threadedly connected thereto and surrounds the cylindrical portion of the bearing 82. The guide ring 96 is provided with pairs of vertical bores 97, 98 whose axes are located in planes including the axis of the column 61. The angular distance between the planes of neighboring pairs of bores 97, 98 equals that between the first, fifth, ninth, etc. receptacles 87. Each of the bores 97 is in axial alignment with a further bore 99 located at a level above the guide ring 96 and provided in the upper end portion of the housing 84. Each bore 97 and the aligned bore 99 receives a vertical guide rod 101, and each bore 98 receives a vertical guide rod 102. The lower end portions of each pair of associated guide rods 101, 102 carry supporting arms 103 for groups or sets of four rams 107.

Each guide rod 101 carries a block 104 which is located between the respective bores 97, 99 and carries the shaft of a roller follower 106 extending into the circumferential groove of the aforementioned drive cam 81. The groups or sets of rams 107 extend downwardly from the respective supporting arms 103 and each thereof registers with a receptacle 87. It will be noted that the drive cam 81 serves to effect movements of the rams 107 toward and away from the aligned receptacles 87 whereby the rams 107 can shift the filter rod sections 6 which are received in the holders 89 while such holders register with the respective receptacles 87. As mentioned above, the movements of levers 91 for the holders 89 are controlled by the drive cam 74.

The lower portion of the housing 84 receives a guide ring 108 which is secured to one race of the bearing 69 and is threadedly connected to the housing 84. The guide ring 108 is formed with equidistant pairs of vertical bores 109, 111 whose distribution is the same as that of the bores 97, 98 in the upper guide ring 96. Each bore 109 is in axial alignment with a bore 112 provided in the lower end portion of the housing 84. The bores 109 and the aligned bores 112 receive guide rods 113, and the bores 111 receive guide rods 114. The pairs of guide rods 113, 114 carry at their upper ends supporting arms 116 for groups or sets of four plungers 119 each of which registers with a receptacle 87 for tubes 11. Each guide rod 113 is provided with a block 117 for a roller follower l 18 which extends into the circumferential groove of the drive cam 71. The latter constitutes a means for moving the plungers 119 up or down during certain stages of angular movement of the housing 84 about the axis of the column 61. The lower end portion of the housing 84 is formed with a ring gear 121 which is driven by a pinion (not shown) receiving torque from the main prime mover of the machine.

FIG. 4 shows a portion of the rotary knife 26. It will be noted that this knife can sever groups or sets of four filter rod sections 6 while the filter rod sections are held in register with the adjacent receptacles 87. The manner in which the other knife 27 can sever the filter rod sections 6 is the same. FIG. 4 further shows that the levers 91 have suitably bent portions so that they do not interfere with each other during angular movement about the axes of the respective shafts 92.

FIG. 5 illustrates diagrammatically successive stations a to s for the making of filter mouthpieces 21 of double unit length of the type shown in FIG. 6. The stations 0 to s are further shown in FIG. 1 adjacent to the circle denoting the path S. The filter mouthpiece 21 of FIG. 6 is of double unit length and comprises a tube 1 1, a centrally located portion 6b of a filter rod section 6 (the portion 6b constitutes a filter plug or wad of double unit length), two portions 6a, 6c of a filter rod section 6 (the portions 6a, 60 constitute filter plugs or wads or unit length), and two filter disks 19. One of the disks 19 abuts against the inner end of the plug 6c and is axially spaced from the filter plug 6b, and the other filter disk 19 abuts against one end of the plug 6b and is axially spaced from the plug 60. The outer ends of the filter plugs 6a, 60 are flush with the respective ends of the tube 11. The tube 11 may consist of paper or cardboard. The combined length of filter plugs 6a, 6b, 6c equals the length of a filter rod section 6, and these filter plugs may consist of acetate fibers. The filter disks 19 may consist of interlaced glass fibers. It was found that the filter mouthpiece 21 is more effective if its filter disk or disks abut against one of the filter plugs or if the filter disk abuts against the inner end of the tobacco rod section in a finished filter-tipped cigarette, cigarillo or cigar. Also, the mouthpiece is more effective if the filter disk is separated from one of the adjoining filter plugs by a clearance or gap such as those shown in FIG. 6 between the upper filter disk 19 and the filter plug 6b as weld as between the lower filter disk 19 and the filter plug 6a. This allows for expansion of filter diks during smoking of a filter-tipped cigarette, cigar or cigarillo.

The operation:

A common prime mover drives the conveyors 62, 63, 64, 66 of the conveyor system 1, the conveyors 3, 8, the transfer conveyors 16a, 16b, and the conveyor 23 at a predetermined constant speed. The directions in which the conveyors are caused to rotate are indicated by arrows shown in FIG. 1. At the station a of the path S, successive flutes 4 of the conveyor 3 in the feeding unit 2 deliver filter rod sections 6 into the holders 89 of the conveyor 64. At the same time, a flute 9 of the conveyor 8 in the feeding unit 7 delivers an empty tube 11 into the adjacent receptacle 87 of the conveyor 63. The conveyors 3 and 8 are suction conveyors, i.e., the filter rod sections 6 and the tubes 11 are held in their respective flutes 4 and 9 by suction during transport to the and tubes 11 immediately after delivery to the holders 89 and receptacles 87. As a pair of freshly delivered axially aligned components 6, l1 begin to move with the respective conveyors 64, 63, the corresponding guide rods 113, 114 are caused by the drive cam 71 to move upwardly and to thereby lift the respective supporting arm 116 which in turn, lifts the corresponding set of four plungers 119. This causes the corresponding set of four tubes 11 to move upwardly into the ring-shaped upper portions of the respective receptacles 87. The plungers 119 thereupon maintain the tubes 11 in such raised positions until after completion of the respective filter mouthpieces 21 of double unit length. At the same time, the guide rods 101, 102 are caused to move downwardly under the action of the drive cam 81 so that the corresponding supporting arm 103 lowers the respective set of four rams 107. This causes four freshly admitted filter rod sections 6 to penetrate through the ring-shaped portions of the respective holders 89 and into the aligned bores 88 (see the station b in FIGS. 1 and 5). As the conveyor system 1 continues to turn, the four filter rod sections 6 move past and are severed by the rapidly rotating knife 26 so that each thereof yields a plug or wad 6a of unit length which remains in the aligned bore 88. The severing of filter rod sections 6 by the knife 26 takes place at the station c. The drive cam 81 thereupon causes the roller follower 106 for the just discussed set of rams 107 to rise and the corresponding lever 91 (with its four holders 89) is caused by the drive cam 74 to pivot about the axis of its shaft 92 so as to move the remainders of the respective filter rod sections 6 out of register with the adjacent bores 88 (see the station d). The rams 107 are thereupon caused by the cam 81 to descend so that they introduce the freshly severed filter plugs 6a into the aligned tubes 11 therebelow. This takes place at the station e. It will be noted that the cam 81 causes the rams 107 to move the plugs 6a into the lowermost portions of the respective tubes 11. The rams 107 are thereupon retracted during travel past the stations f and g.

In the meantime, the feeding unit 12a of FIGS. 1 and 2 operates to produce a succession of filter disks 19 in the following manner: The advancing device 13a draws the strip 41a off the bobbin 39a in the container 31a whereby the bobbin rolls along the cylindrical internal surface 380 of the wall 32a. The strip 41a is relatively narrow and is guided between the carrier 51a of the stamping device 14a and the apertured disk 17a of the transfer conveyor 16a whereby successive tools 5211 of the carrier 51a remove from the strip 41a a succession of filter disks 19 while such tools travel below and are depressed by the outer race of the antifriction bearing 53a. The diameter of each filter disk 19 either very closely approximates or exactly matches the diameter of a filter rod section 6. The carrier 51a is driven by the prime mover so that the speed of its tools 52a equals the speed of lengthwise movement of the strip 41a. The freshly formed filter disks 19 are retained in the apertures 18a of the disk 17a which moves successive filled apertures 18a into register with successive bores 88. The configuration of the aforementioned guide cam 57a for the tools 52a is such that it causes a tool 52a which registers with the adjacent bore 88 to descend and to thus transfer the freshly stamped filter disk 19 from the aligned aperture 18a into the adjacent bore 88 of the conveyor 63.

The filter disks 19 which are supplied by the feeding unit 12a reach successive bores 88 of the conveyor 63 at the station h. The cam 74 thereupon causes the levers 91 to return the respective sets of holders 89 into alignment with the adjacent bores 88, and the cam 81 causes the rams 107 to descend and to push portions of the adjacent set of filter rod sections 6 into the aligned bores 88. This causes the disks 19 to penetrate into the bores 88 ahead of the respective filter rod sections 6. While travelling at the station k, the thus inserted filter rod sections 6 (each of which is minus the filter plug 60) are severed by the knife 27 so that each thereof yields a filter plug 6b of double unit length which remains in the respective bore 88. The rams 107 are lifted by the cam 81 not later than at the station k to an extent which is necessary to allow for renewed pivotal movement of the respective lever 92 to move its holders 89 out of register with the adjacent bores 88 (each such holder 89 then supports only the plug 6c, i.e., one fourth of the original filter rod section 6). The cam 81 then causes the rams 107 to descend and to push the four filter plugs 6b therebelow into the aligned tubes 1 1 whereby the plugs 6b push the respective filter disks 19 in front of them (see the station 1) to predetermined positions above the respective filter plugs 6a. The rams 107 are thereupon retracted by the cam 81 through the intermediary of the respective roller follower 106 (see the station m).

The feeding unit 12b forms and delivers a succession of filter disks 19 in the same way as described in connection with the feeding unit 12a. The filter disks 19 which are formed by the feeding unit 12b reach the bores 88 at the station n and are introduced into such bores by the respective tools 52b under the action of the guide cam 57b. In the next step, the cam 74 causes the respective lever 91 to return its four holders 89 into register with the adjacent bores 88 (see the station p) and the cam 81 moves the respective rams 107 downwardly to thus introduce the plugs 6c into the aligned tubes 11 by way of the respective bores 88. The plugs 6c push the filter disks 19 which are delivered by the feeding unit 12b and the extent of downward movement of rams 107 under the action of the cam 81 is such that the upper disks 19 are brought to a standstill at a predetermined distance from the upper ends of the respective filter plugs 6 b of double unit length. Also, the upper end faces of the filter plugs 6c of unit length are flush with the upper end faces of the respective tubes 11 (see the station q).

The cam 81 thereupon causes the four rams 107 to descend still further and to expel the respective filter -mouthpieces 21 from their receptacles 87. This is possible because the plungers 119 descend simultaneously with and at the same rate as the aligned rams 107 to insure that the axial positions of plugs 6a and 6c in the mouthpieces 21 remain unchanged. The removal of mouthpieces 21 from the ring-shaped upper portions of the respective receptacles 87 is completed at the station r. Such mouthpieces are thereupon accepted by the flutes 22 of the conveyor 23 and are held by suction during transport to a further conveyor (not shown) which delivers the mouthpieces to storage, to a tray filling machine or directly into a filter cigarette making machine, not shown.

It will be noted that the machine of FIGS. 1 to 5 completes sets of four mouthpieces 21 at a time. However, it is clear the the machine can be readily modified to shorter tubes 11 and shorter filter rod sections 6 and by deleting or deactivating the feeding unit 12a or 12b and the knife 26 or 27. Analogously, the machine can be converted for the making of filter mouthpieces of more than two times unit length.

It will be noted that the rams 107 perform a number of functions including effecting axial displacements of filter rod sections 6 prior to severing of such sections by the knives 26, 27, introduction of the thus obtained filter plugs 60, 6b, 6c into the aligned tubes 11, introduction of filter disks 19 into the tubes 11, and expulsion of finished filter mouthpieces 21 from the respective receptacles 87.

The mounting of sets of holders 89 on common levers 92 contributes to a higher output of the machine.

The machine of FIG. 7 comprises a feeding unit 201 which supplies filter plugs 210 of double unit length and comprises a magazine or hopper 202 for storage of a supply of parallel filter rod sections of several times (e.g., six times) unit length. The magazine 202 has an outlet which discharges filter rod sections into successive flutes of a rotary cutting conveyor 203 cooperating with two rotary disk-shaped knives (not shown) to subdivide successive filter rod sections of six times unit length into filter plugs 210 of double unit length. The thus obtained three rows of filter plugs 210 are transferred onto three rotary shuffling conveyors 204 which stagger the filter plugs 210 in such a way that the filter plugs form a single row of parallel but staggered filter elements which are transferred into successive flutes of an aligning conveyor 206 cooperating with one or more cams so as to convert the thus transferred row of filter plugs into a row wherein the filter plugs are located exactly one behind the other (see US. Pat. No. 3,164,242 to Schubert et al.). Successive filter plugs 210 are thereupon introduced into the flutes of a transfer conveyor 207 cooperating with an endless conveyor belt or chain 208 having equidistant transversely extending entraining elements or pushers 209 which remove filter plugs 210 from successive flutes of the transfer conveyor 207 and form a single file of axially aligned filter plugs which are taken over by the lower stretch of a foraminous conveyor belt 211 travelling below a stationary suction chamber 211a.

The parts 202-204 and 206-207 of the feeding unit 201 are analogous to those in the filter plug forming and feeding unit of the filter cigarette making machines known as MAX and produced by the West German Firm of Hauni-Werke, Korber & Co. K.G., of Hamburg-Bergedorf.

The machine of FIG. 7 further comprises a second feeding unit 212 which serves to supply a continuous web or tape 213 of paper, cork or other suitable wrapping material. The web 213 is being withdrawn from a bobbin 214 by a pair of advancing rolls 217 and its underside is coated with adhesive by the rotary applicator 216a of a paster 216. The feeding unit 212 is similar to that which is used in filter rod making machines of the type known as KDF and produced by l-Iauni-Werke of I-Iamburg-Bergedorf.

A third feeding unit 219 of the machine shown in FIG. 7 serves to supply a succession of filter disks 242 shown in FIGS. 8 and 10. The feeding unit 219 comprises a roll 222 of convoluted filter material 221 which forms an elongated strip or tape and is being collected by a takeup reel 223. The tape 221 is trained over a drum 226 which constitutes a counterknife or anvil and is located opposite a wheel-shaped rotary carrier 224 for discrete stamping tools. As the strip 221 travels from the roll 222 toward the takeup reel 223, the tools of the rotating carrier 224 remove therefrom at least one row of flat filter disks 242 which are transferred onto an inserting conveyor 218 best shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. The conveyor 218 cooperates with a plug shifting or displacing conveyor 220 also shown in detail in FIGS. 8 and 9.

The web 213 of wrapping material is fed onto and advances with the upper stretch of a garniture belt 231 which receives a single file of filter plugs 210 from the foraminous conveyor belt 211 and which also receives filter disks 242 from the conveyor 218. The plugs 210 and disks 242 are placed onto the adhesive-coated upper side of the web 213 on the upper stretch of the garniture belt 231. The latter moves the web 213 through a wrapping or draping mechanism 227 which drapes the web around the alternating plugs 210 and disks 242 to form an elongated filter rod 228. The filter rod 228 travels below a plate-like sealer 232 which heats the seam formed by the overlapping marginal portions of the web 213, and thereupon through a conventional cutoff 229 which severs the rod 228 at regular intervals (see the phantom lines B and C in FIG. 10) to subdivide the rod 228 into discrete filter mouthpieces 234 of double unit length. The knife of the cutoff 229 severs each second filter plug 210 midway between its ends so that each mouthpiece 234 comprises a centrally located filter plug 210 of double unit length, two filter plugs 210a of unit length which are spaced apart from the opposite axial ends of the plug 210, and two filter disks 242 one of which abuts against one end of the filter plug 210 and the other of which abuts against one end of the filter plugs 210a. The distance between the filter plug 210 and the filter plugs 210a in each mouthpiece 234 exceeds the thickness of a filter disk 242 so that the left-hand filter disk 242 of the right-hand mouthpiece 234 shown in FIG. 10 is spaced apart from the left-hand plug 210a and that the righthand disk 242 of this mouthpiece is spaced apart from the respective filter plug 210.

The filter mouthpieces 234 which are separated by the cutoff 229 from filter rod 228 form a single file and move axially into the range of an accelerator 233 here shown as a rotary cam having one or more lobes which propel successive mouthpieces 234 into successive axially parallel flutes of a transfer conveyor 236. The latter moves the mouthpieces 234 sideways and delivers them onto the upper stretch of an endless belt conveyor 237 for transport into a filter cigarette making machine, such as the aforementioned MAX of Hauni- Werke.

The filter cigarette making machine is provided with means for placing successive mouthpieces 234 of double unit length between pairs of coaxial plain cigarettes of unit length and for thereupon convoluting an adhesive-coated uniting band around each mouthpiece 234 and around the adjacent ends of the respective plain cigarettes to form a series of filter cigarettes of double unit length. Each such cigarette is thereupon severed midway between its ends (across the filter plug 210 of the respective mouthpiece 234) to yield two filter ciga- 

1. A method of producing composite filter mouthpieces of the type wherein a prefabricated tube confines a plurality of gaspermeable self-supporting plug- and disk-shaped filter elements, comprising continuously moving at least one prefabricated tube sideways; a first placing step of positioning a first filter plug in axial alignment with the moving tube; a first introducing step of inserting the thus aligned first plug into the moving tube; a second placing step of positioning a filter disk in axial alignment with the moving tube; a second introducing step of inserting the thus aligned disk into the moving tube; a third placing step of positioning a second filter plug in axial alignment with the moving tube; and a third introducing step of inserting the thus aligned second plug into the moving tube so that the disk is located between the first and second plugs.
 2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the material of at least one of said filter plugs is different from the material of said filter disk.
 3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said moving step comprises moving the prefabricated tube sideways along an endless path and the material of said first filter plug is identical with the material of said second filter plug but different from the material of said filter disk.
 4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said second introducing step comprises moving said filter disk axially into abutment with one end of said first plug and said third introducing step comprises moving said second filter plug into the tube to a position in which the second filter plug is spaced apart from said filter disk.
 5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said second introducing step comprises moving said filter disk into the moving tube to a position in which the disk is spaced apart from said first filter plug and said third introducing step comprises moving one end of said second filter plug into abutment with said filter disk.
 6. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising a fourth placing step of positioning a second filter disk in axial alignment with the moving tube, a fourth introducing step of inserting the thus aligned second disk into the moving tube so that said first and second disks are located at the opposite sides of said second plug, a fifth placing step of positioning a third filter plug in axial alignment with the Moving tube, and a fifth introducing step of inserting the thus aligned third plug into the moving tube so that said second disk is located between said second and third plugs.
 7. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein said second and third introducing steps comprise locating said first disk and said second plug in such axial positions that said first disk abuts against one but is spaced apart from the other of said first and second filter plugs.
 8. A method as defined in claim 7, wherein said fourth and fifth introducing steps comprise locating said second disk and said third plug in such axial positions that said second disk abuts against one but is spaced apart from the other of said second and third filter plugs.
 9. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the axial length of one of said filter plugs is a multiple of the axial length of the other filter plug.
 10. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of continuously moving an elongated filter rod section sideways, severing said filter rod section to form said first filter plug, and severing said filter rod section to form said second filter plug.
 11. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of moving an elongated strip of filter material lengthwise and severing said moving strip to form said filter disk.
 12. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said second introducing step comprises pushing said filter disk into the moving tube by way of said second filter plug in the course of said third introducing step.
 13. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising a fourth placing step positioning a second filter disk in axial alignment with the moving tube, a fourth introducing step of inserting the thus aligned second disk into the moving tube so that the second plug is located between said first and second disks, a fifth placing step of positioning a third filter plug in axial alignment with the moving tube, and a fifth inserting step of introducing the thus aligned third plug into the moving tube so that said second disk is located between said second and third plugs, said fourth introducing step comprising pushing said second disk into the moving tube by way of said third plug in the course of said fifth introducing step.
 14. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of moving an elongated filter rod section sideways and severing said filter rod section to form said second filter plug, said second placing step comprising locating said filter disk in axial alignment with said severed second plug and said second introducing step taking place simultaneously with said third introducing step.
 15. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and third placing steps comprises moving an elongated filter rod section sideways in axial alignment with the moving tube and severing the filter rod section to form the respective filter plug, and further comprising the step of moving the thus severed filter rod section out of axial alignment with said tube prior to introduction of said respective filter plug.
 16. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said moving step comprises continuously moving a plurality of prefabricated tubes sideways along an endless path, at least one of said first and third placing and introducing steps comprising moving a plurality of elongated filter rod sections sideways so that each thereof registers with a moving tube, severing said filter rod sections to form the respective filter plugs, and simultaneously introducing the thus formed plugs into the respective tubes.
 17. In a machine for the making of composite mouthpieces of the type wherein a prefabricated tube confines a plurality of self-supporting plug- and disk-shaped gas-permeable filter elements, a combination comprising first conveyor means having at least one continuously moving receptacle for removably retaining and moving a prefabricated tube sideways; second conveyor means having continuously moving holdEr means for repeatedly placing a filter rod section into axial alignment with a tube in said receptacle; first feeding means for supplying elongated filter rod sections to said holder means; severing means for se vering the filter rod section in said holder means so that the section yields discrete filter plugs; at least one second feeding means for supplying filter disks into axial alignment with a tube in said receptacle; and inserting means actuatable to alternatingly introduce axially aligned filter plugs and filter disks into a tube in said re ceptacle.
 18. A combination as defined in claim 17, wherein said first and second conveyor means are coaxial rotary conveyors and further comprising drive means for moving said holder means relative to said conveyors, said inserting means comprising a third conveyor coaxial with said rotary conveyors and having a ram coaxial with a tube in said receptacle and second drive means for moving said ram axially to thereby introduce filter plugs and filter disks into the tube in said receptacle.
 19. A combination as defined in claim 17, wherein said second feeding means comprises a source of strip-shaped filter material, advancing means for drawing the material from said source and for continuously moving the thus withdrawn material along a predetermined path, stamping means for removing from the moving material in said path a succession of filter disks, and transfer means for transporting filter disks from said path to said first conveyor means.
 20. A combination as defined in claim 19, wherein said transfer conveyor means comprises a rotary member having apertures for reception of filter disks.
 21. A combination as defined in claim 19, further comprising drive means for repeatedly moving said holder means into and from axial alignment with said receptacle, receptacle said inserting means being operative to transfer filter plugs from said holder means into said receptacle while said holder means is aligned with the receptacle.
 22. A combination as defined in claim 17, further comprising drive means for moving said holder means relative to said first conveyor means and for maintaining said holder means in axial alignment with said receptacle while said severing means severs a filter rod section in said holder means.
 23. A combination as defined in claim 17, wherein said severing means comprises at least one knife located in a plane which is normal to the axis of a filter rod section in said holder means.
 24. A combination as defined in claim 17, wherein said inserting means comprises a ram which is in axial alignment with a tube in said receptacle and drive means for moving said ram axially prior to transport of a filter rod section in said holder means past said severing means.
 25. A combination as defined in claim 24, wherein said drive means comprises a cam and follower means operatively connected with said ram and arranged to track said cam.
 26. A combination as defined in claim 17, further comprising drive means for moving said holder means into and from register with said receptacle, said drive means comprising cam means and follower means operatively connected with said holder means and arranged to track said cam means.
 27. A combination as defined in claim 17, wherein said first conveyor means comprises at least one set of parallel receptacles and said second conveyor means comprises discrete holder means for each receptacle of said set, said inserting means comprising discrete axially movable rams in register with said receptacles. 